New Schedule of 'American Idol' Season Eight

December 16, 2008 04:14:19 GMT

Find out when 'American Idol' will air the audition rounds as well as the Hollywood week and Top 12 announcement.

Changes have been made to the new season of "American Idol", introducing a new format of the singing talent show and also the return of "Wild Card". Also released is the schedule of the episodes that will start on January 13 when the show returns with the first part of a four-hour season premiere.

As usual, the show visits some cities including Kansas City, M.O., Phoenix, A.Z. and San Juan, Puerto Rico to search for the new American Idol. The audition episodes will be aired in three weeks starting January 20 before proceeding with the Hollywood week on February 3. FOX have announced that this season, they will focus more on the talented and aspiring singers rather than the jokes and odd auditions.

Also, the Hollywood round will accommodate as many as 36 contestants instead of the usual 24 to give more chance for the people to show what they got. Starting February 17, America will decide who should be in the Top 12. One male, one female and the next top vote getter from the three split groups consisting of 12 people each, will earn the ticket to the final.

"Wild Card" that was practiced in the early seasons of the show, will effectively apply on March 5. The judges will bring back three contestants that they think deserve a second chance. The announced schedule stops at March 10 where the Top 12 finalists are gathered to perform for the first time.